47-55.1 steering upgrade

[nvrdone]

the next big project on my '49 is a steering upgrade. I still have the stock steering spaced out to clear a V8. Im thinking of using an 68 - 76 toyota pickup steering box and mounting it forward on the top of the frame rail close to the radiator. i know that will require remounting the shocks, but in thinking that should give me clearance at the back of the left head. I do have a 3" dropped axle with disc brakes. This should allow me to use a horizontal drag link.
So, has anyone done this conversion and did you use power or manual steering?
Thanks.

[mr48chev]

I snagged these shots off an F100 page where someone had posted them on a Toyota steering box thread.

I'd say you have already figured it out that it isn't going to work behind the axle with A V8 on an AD. This pretty well shows that as it is real close to the six.

Looking at that box and the splines I wonder how hard it would be to reclock the pitman arm so you could lay the box down flat on top of the frame rail when you mounted it out front. On a GM box you can file the locater splines out so you can put the arm on in any orientation. That would let you lay the box flat on a mounting plate on top of the frame and run the steering shaft straight back along the inner fender to a U joint to clean things up a bit.

[nvrdone]

mr 48 - hadnt thought about laying the box down flat but thats a good idea. a mounting bracket like that wouldnt be too hard to fab up. wondering if p/s would be better than a manual box. lots of things to think about. wonder why I havent seen this kind of set up before.

[mr48chev]

It will work either way but laying it flat or close to flat out front will look better and may give the back U joint a lot better angle.